Ardan opens a front against Likud: "It does not represent what most of the people expect - not even its own voters"

Gilad Ardan's decision to embark on an independent political path continues to cause ripples in the political system. In an interview this morning (Sunday) with Gidon Oko and Almog Boker on their program on 103FM radio, the former Minister of Public Security and Israel's Ambassador to the United States and the UN addressed the dramatic step of leaving Likud and establishing a new right-wing party, criticized the current conduct of his former party, and revealed that he recently rejected an offer for a reserved spot on its list.

The announcement of the establishment of a new party, whose name he promised to reveal soon, was not easily accepted by someone who grew up in the Likud movement: "It was a very difficult personal decision for me to leave Likud after thirty years," Ardan shared his feelings. "It is not a trivial matter. I truly love the Likud activists and the Likud voters with all my heart. But when you understand that the elected officials in the party, or the path of Likud today in my eyes, is missing the mark and does not represent what most of the people, including Likud voters, expect, I felt that I could not continue to be a part of it."

Ardan detailed the core issues that led to the rift, led by the issue of equality in the burden: "I must lead a change and ensure that there is a broad Zionist government in Israel," he emphasized. When the presenters asked if the criticism of Likud's path is actually directed at the path of the party chairman Benjamin Netanyahu, Ardan chose to focus on ideology rather than personalization: "It matters less, I try not to turn disagreements and struggles into personal ones, but into struggles over a path, over values, and over norms," he explained.

"As a right-wing person all my life, I believe that what the right wants to see is that every citizen in Israel will serve in the IDF or in national service," Ardan declared. "I think they want to see mutual respect and honor even towards those we disagree with, because in the end, our message after October 7 is that the disagreements between us are not that big. Our enemies see us the same, and we must do everything to reduce disagreement and sit and govern together. If we can fight in Kibbutz Be'eri together — settlers, right and left, religious and secular — we can also manage the country together."

The refusal to Likud

Ardan confirmed that he received a direct approach from a senior figure in the Prime Minister's environment: "About a week ago, a conversation was held with me on this subject," he revealed. "I, of course, do not intend to tell the details, but it is one of the people close to the Prime Minister. I made it clear that this is not on the agenda and I am leading an independent path."

To the interviewers' question of whether the offer also included a senior position alongside the place on the list, Ardan replied: "I confirm that it was a very senior and significant person who spoke about a very high reserved spot in Likud. But I was elected five times in Likud in the top three spots from 2006 to 2019. That is not the point. The point is the influence and the ability to lead a change in the country to bring about a broad Zionist government, and that is the only thing that interests me. Not the place and not the position."

During the interview, Ardan addressed the criticism voiced against him from the right and the left, and the claims that he serves as a "proxy" for Netanyahu. "It was expected," he said with a chuckle. "When you basically say that you are not going to crown any side here to rule alone and do what it wants, but that the other side must also be considered, you are attacked by both sides. On the right side, which I am a part of, they will say all kinds of delusions, even though everyone knows my past and that I never zigzagged."

He added: "I am a right-wing person from the days of the struggle against the disengagement from Gush Katif and even before that in the struggle against Oslo. From the left side, they will say what you said. But again, if I wanted to be someone's proxy, I would have stayed in the safe place, which is Likud, and waited for the upcoming elections."

"A narrow government will be destructive to the people of Israel"

Ardan's political vision focuses on breaking political polarization and preventing the establishment of a government of extremes. "If, God forbid, a narrow government is established here again, and it does not matter if it is a right-wing government controlled by the Haredi parties, or a left-wing government politically controlled by the Arab factions, or by the extremism of Yair Golan and the Democrats, it will be a very bad result," he warned.

"We will not be able to deal with the challenges that the future holds for us, whether it is the security burden, the economic burden, or diplomatic isolation that may be expected after Donald Trump. Therefore, I say that as much as I and the movement I lead have political power, we will be able to bring about that both blocs will sit together in a broad Zionist government."

Ardan refused to commit to whom he will recommend to the President for the formation of the next government, and clarified that he will support whoever promotes unity: "I will expect from whoever has the greatest chances to form a government, to make a very generous political offer to the other side to join him," he noted. "Whoever is the refuser of unity, we will point him out, tell the public, and expect it to punish him if he drags the country into another round of elections. I have no intention of joining any narrow government, because it will be destructive to the people in Israel for years to come."

Regarding the issue of conscription, Ardan presented a firm and clear line: "We must lead to the fact that all sectors will serve in the IDF, both the Haredim and the Arabs," he determined. "By the way, even if there are secular draft dodgers. We need to set a personal standard here that whoever serves receives incentives and benefits, and whoever does not, does not. It is so simple and logical, and only a broad government will be able to pass this principle. There is a need here to carry out a deep judicial reform, but to do it with broad consensus."

Ahead of the closing of the lists on September 7, Ardan confirmed that contacts are being held for mergers in the center bloc, among others with figures like Benny Gantz and Chili Tropper. "Naturally, politics is a competitive field and it is legitimate that people see themselves and want to lead," he admitted. "I estimate that until the closing of the lists there will be mergers and changes. It is not true that there are only four or five mandates in this area. According to all the studies and checks, we are talking about a magnitude of ten mandates. If there is public understanding that a narrow government is a great damage for the years to come, this potential will also grow."

In conclusion, Ardan refused to confirm or deny the joining of figures like Oren Smadja or Ayelet Shaked to his list. "In the coming days, you will see very significant and valuable people who can bring about a change here who will join the party I lead," he promised, and summarized his current doctrine in a short sentence: "Real right, real conscription."